Someone wants to get acquainted with the beautiful architecture of the city on the water, someone wants to tie the knot here, and someone goes to Venice to plunge into the culture of this place and learn as much as possible about its traditions and features. In addition to the outstanding architecture and landscapes of amazing beauty, of course, Venice is famous for being located on the islands in a wonderful and picturesque lagoon, surrounded on all sides by water. Venetian gondolas, cutting through the waves of the lagoon, are often called the most beautiful boats in the world and are considered a "calling card" - one of the main attractions of Venice. They will be discussed today.
Story
Over the centuries, the appearance of the popular Venice river transport has been modified several times. The current gondola is the result of a long process of “boat evolution” and adaptation to the needs of citizens and the inconsistent water quality. The history of the city and the history of this type of ship are closely intertwined.
The first mention of the gondola dates back to 1094, when the Doge of Venice Vitale Falier granted some inhabitants of the city a charter for the right to build gondolas. Despite the fact that the sources documenting the appearance of the Venetian ships are very old, they nevertheless fully describe how unusual boats looked in ancient times. By the way, they were very different from modern gondolas, as they were painted in different colors. However, after 1562, the color of the case became black, which remains to this day. Historians believe that it was this color that was used by the Venetians as a mourning element that reminded them of the victims of the terrible plague that attacked the city. The disease receded, but the inhabitants of Venice are so accustomed to dark boats that they did not begin to change their color.
In the late 1400s, gondolas very much resembled other types of water transport used at that time in the Venetian lagoon. Only in the early 1500s the appearance of this type of boat began to change due to the fact that they were usually used to transport the local poor. By the late 1600s, the gondolas took almost the same shape as we see now. In the 1800s, some technical innovations were added to their hull, an asymmetric design, for example, allows gondoliers to easily control a vessel, deftly maneuvering between other boats.
A few decades ago, gondolas were equipped with wooden cabins, which were called "felze" and attached to the center of the hull. Such a structure was erected on boats in bad weather to shelter passengers from the rain, but was soon deemed unnecessary: the cabin prevented gondoliers from seeing the road. By the way, today gondolas are used exclusively by tourists. According to some estimates, today the waves of the magnificent Venetian lagoon cut through about fifty gondolas, which is half as much as in 1580.
Symbols and Details
Every detail of the gondola symbolizes something. The decorators of the Middle Ages attached particular importance to the forged and metal parts, combining elegance and practicality. For example, the iron bow of the ship, the “ferro da prora '”, usually made in an s-shape that resembles the bends of the Canal Grande, was created so that the gondolier could use its weight to balance the boat. Also on the gondolas there is a standard counterweight with six teeth, which symbolize the six districts of Venice.
Gondoliers
Tourists who come to Venice may mistakenly assume that all gondolas are very, very similar or even the same. However, it is not. In fact, these amazing "black swans" are made according to some parameters officially approved by the city authorities, and everything else is done exclusively for a specific rower.
Gondoliers always work on their own boats, the cost of which, by the way, is quite high: from 25 to 75 thousand euros. The unique profession of gondola rower is passed down from generation to generation. But blood ties are not enough to drive tourists on a beautiful boat. To obtain a special license, you must complete a 9-month training course in gondoliers, and upon completion they must pass a serious and difficult exam. Moreover, applicants for gondola control are also required to prove their knowledge of English. And only then representatives of the city hall will agree to consider the application for a license. It is worth noting the fact that a gondola is a man’s business. However, history knows cases when the fair sex became stern of the Venetian “swans”.
Interesting facts about gondolas
- Modern gondolas are simultaneously similar and not similar. As mentioned above, the City Hall of Venice has determined the standards by which boats are made. They all weigh 700 kilograms and consist of 280 pieces carved from eight different types of wood: oak, elm, lime, larch, fir, cherry, walnut and mahogany.
- There are several versions that explain the black color of modern gondolas. According to one of them, the city hall signed a decree prohibiting painting boats in black to put an end to the serious struggle that unleashed between representatives of the Venetian elite. The thing is that the wealthy owners of the gondolas previously tried to decorate their boats in one way or another, in order to demonstrate their solvency to everyone. According to the second version, the black color of the gondolas denotes the grief of the Venetians, who survived the terrible plague that claimed thousands of people.
- Famous writers and poets regularly compared the "black swans" of Venice with coffins. And some studies confirm that gondolas in the Venetians are associated with death.
- The first female gondolier received a license to operate this mode of transport in 2010. Georgia Boscolo (Giorgia Boscolo), the 24-year-old daughter of the 40-year-old "veteran" gondolier continued her father's path. A German, Alex Hai, also intended to get an unusual profession, but the girl was not able to pass the ship control exam.
- One Venetian company offers tourists to teach them how to drive a gondola. Row Venice agrees to provide a professional gondolier who will tell you the basics of his work in an hour and a half, and also help to consolidate what he heard in practice. At your disposal will be given not a gondola, but another boat, which, however, is almost an exact analogue of Venice's “visiting card”. Row Venice website: www.rowvenice.com
- Instead of riding a gondola, tourists can also go to the Squero San Trovaso shipyard, where new boats are built and old ones are serviced. It may take about 500 hours to produce one gondola, so in Venice there are only 20 more “black swans” per year.
- If you want to look at the gondolas not in the manufacturing process, but in all their greatness, you definitely should pay a visit to Venice on the first Saturday of September. On this day, the Grand Canal hosts a parade of decorated gondolas and their rowers. Moreover, the historical regatta “Regata Storica” is organized here, as well as the competition between the Venetian boats.
How much does it cost to ride a gondola?
A visit to Venice almost includes a mandatory point: "ride a gondola." And this is not surprising: the city opens from the other, outer side, when you sail along the waves of the Gulf of Venice. What could be more romantic in Venice, if not a late afternoon gondola ride in the company of your soulmate? However, it should be borne in mind that the prices for the services of a gondolier are not so low.
Usually rowers ask for 80 euros for a 40-minute walk, but this is the cost of renting the entire boat.
So, for example, if you travel with four friends, then the fare will cost 20 euros each. However, remember that the number of seats in the gondolas is always limited. Moreover, in the evening the cost of the trip increases (within 20 euros).
